Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 1,830,000 | 2,900,000 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Spanish | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | High | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | September - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1321 | $659 | $2498 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $615 | $844 | $354 | $1174 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $114 | $98 | $44 | $175 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $165 | $121 | $81 | $313 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $38 | $25 | $18 | $51 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $133 | $95 | $49 | $196 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $11 | $3 | $10 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $21 | $9 | $6 | $78 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $9 | $9 | $6 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $14 | $2 | $49 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $11 | $54 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $4 | $15 | $20 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $45 | $23 | $22 | $82 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $30 | $14 | $9 | $44 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $59 | $19 | $23 | $142 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $31 | $10 | $15 | $64 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Movistar, Claro, Personal | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital. |
Local food specialities | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |